This page no longer updated from 31 October 2001. Latest version can be found at www.astronautix.com
Class: Communications. Nation: International. Agency: ITSO. Manufacturer: Ford Aerospace. The Intelsat 5A series is very similar to the Intelsat 5 series. Modifications include a larger communications payload with internal weight savings to accommodate the additional mass. The 5A series (F1-F6) is also known as Intelsat 5 (F10-F15). Spacecraft: 3-axis stabilised to 0.4 deg with momentum wheels. Hydrazine propulsion system. Passive thermal control. Dual solar arrays provide 1800 W (BOL). Nickel hydrogen batteries. Payload: 26 C-Band and 6 Ku-Band transponders.15,000 voice circuits and 2 TV channels.
SpecificationDesign Life: 9 years. Total Length: 2.8 m. Maximum Diameter: 2.1 m. Total Mass: 2,013 kg.
Intelsat 5A Chronology
22 March 1985
Intelsat 5A F-10 Program: Intelsat. Launch Site: Cape Canaveral . Launch Vehicle: Atlas G. Mass: 2,013 kg. Perigee: 35,771 km. Apogee: 35,802 km. Inclination: 1.3 deg.
30 June 1985
Intelsat 5A F-11 Program: Intelsat. Launch Site: Cape Canaveral . Launch Vehicle: Atlas G. Mass: 1,098 kg. Perigee: 35,773 km. Apogee: 35,799 km. Inclination: 0.7 deg.
28 September 1985
Intelsat 5A F-12 Program: Intelsat. Launch Site: Cape Canaveral . Launch Vehicle: Atlas G. Mass: 1,096 kg. Perigee: 35,771 km. Apogee: 35,802 km. Inclination: 0.3 deg. Telephone communications; 31 deg E. Launch vehicle put payload into geosynchronous transfer orbit
31 May 1986
Intelsat-5A 14 Program: Intelsat. Launch Site: Kourou . Launch Vehicle: Ariane 2/3. FAILURE: Third stage ignition failure. Destroyed by range safety. Targeted for geosynch orbit.
18 May 1988
Intelsat 5A F-13 Program: Intelsat. Launch Site: Kourou . Launch Vehicle: Ariane 2/3. Mass: 2,013 kg. Perigee: 35,776 km. Apogee: 35,800 km. Inclination: 0.1 deg. Replaced Intelsat 5 F-3; 53 deg W.
27 January 1989
Intelsat 5A F-15 Program: Intelsat. Launch Site: Kourou . Launch Vehicle: Ariane 2/3. Mass: 1,977 kg. Perigee: 35,773 km. Apogee: 35,801 km. Inclination: 0.0 deg. International communications; 18 deg W.
Bibliography:- 5 - Krebs, Gunter, Gunter's Space Page, University of Frankfurt, 1996. HTML when accessed: http://www.skyrocket.de/space
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Last update 12 March 2001.
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© Mark Wade, 2001 .